An activist who was discovered on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island says residents tied him up after he went there to gather information and draw renewed attention to the late financier’s alleged crimes.
Benjamin Owen, who founded the Memphis-based nonprofit We Fight Monsters, says his organization focuses on tackling human trafficking and child exploitation.
Authorities responded last weekend following reports of a kidnapping. According to accounts referenced in a police report, officers who arrived at Little St James — previously owned by Epstein — found Owen restrained with duct tape.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in custody and awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Police also encountered three other people on the island. One of them alleged that his pregnant girlfriend had been pushed during a confrontation with trespassers who were taking photos.
That man was charged with assaulting Owen, the report states.
Owen later issued a statement to Nexstar’s WREG, saying his goal was to research the case and bring public focus back to it.
The statement read: “As confirmed by multiple media reports, and public record, I was arrested for trespassing on Epstein Island over the weekend while attempting to do some research to get that story back in the spotlight and raise awareness for our non-profit We Fight Monsters which combats human trafficking and exploitation.
“Those same reports also highlight that I was kidnapped, hogtied and blindfolded by an individual who managed the island for Jeffrey Epstein himself, a woman who apparently still manages and resides on the island today.
“I’d like to thank [Virgin Islands police] for rescuing me from that debacle, and I look forward to seeing what the legal process uncovers as all of this proceeds.
“One thing I’ll add — nobody pushed the woman on the beach and we have video of that confrontation when the time is right.
“At the request of the magistrate, that’s all I’m able to say now, just repeating publicly available information, I’m unable to discuss any specifics of the case.”
Speaking after the incident, Owen’s wife Jessica told ABC24 Memphis that he expected to be confronted and potentially arrested, and believed that outcome could bring attention back to the island and to the nonprofit’s work.
Owen’s wife Jessica told ABC24 Memphis following the event: “He figured he would get caught and arrested that was totally okay with him and I think he wanted that a little bit, just to get eyes back on that subject, on that island and possibly to get more eyes on We Fight Monsters.
“… To us it was completely worth doing… for the victims of Epstein, for the victims everywhere, this was for all of them.”
Owen has been charged with trespassing and was later released on bond.